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Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Tour of Knockahopple Cottage

What happens when an Irish American visits his ancestral land and discovers an unoccupied cottage for sale in County Tipperary? Why, he buys the cottage, of course, lovingly renovates it and, serendipitously, it becomes an Irish guesthouse.It is with great pleasure that I introduce you to Knockahopple Cottage and its owner Liam Hughes.

In the mid-1800's Liam's great grandfather came to America from Knockahopple, a townsland nestled in the beautiful Silvermines Mountains of County Tipperary. As a boy Liam often visited the area with his family.

During a visit in 1989 Liam asked his cousin if there were any cottages for sale in the area. His cousin directed him to what is now called "Knockahopple Cottage."

The cottage had been vacant for some time and required a good deal of work to bring it to a livable condition. Major improvements included a new addition

and new floors in the original section of the cottage.

Liam maintained the integrity of the traditional cottage while performing the needed updates.

A working kitchen is accessed through a half door just off the cozy eating area.

An antique press houses the cottage dishware.

The remodeled sitting room is warm and inviting.

Liam's penchant for collecting antiques has added to the charm of Knockahopple.

Glorious flowers are seen throughout the cottage and grounds.

Stunning pink roses wind their way 'round the side of the cottage

and hug the quaint doorbell.

Is it a rainy day? A sunny day? It's both.

Irish Gorse in full bloom.

Knocakahopple's next door neighbors

Initially, the only guests Liam planned to host at Knockahopple Cottage were family and close friends. But then he received a phone call from a seventy-five-year-old woman in Indiana named Gaeney. She was planning a visit with her friend to Ireland in 1999 and, having heard of Knockahopple from a friend of Liam's mother, was interested in staying at the cottage.Liam says, "We made the arrangements over the phone, but she was disheartened to learn that her age restricted her from renting a car in Ireland. That was when she asked if I would be interested in driving her and her friend to their destinations."Liam agreed and worked out the details of the trip. When the two women arrived in Ireland, he drove them to Knockahopple Cottage and served them tea and scones. The next morning he served a full Irish breakfast, including fresh baked soda bread that he cooked over the open fire in the kitchen. "A secret I learned from my Irish cousin, Anna Mae," he says.

Twin Bedroom

During their two week stay at Knockahopple Cottage Liam showed the ladies the Ireland most tourists don't see. Gaeney was so impressed with her stay that she urged Liam to "put his passion for showing off the real Ireland to work." Liam took her advice, and that's how Knockahopple Cottage and Tours came to be. Although his guesthouse business has grown, Liam intentionally keeps it small and personalized.When he's not busy with Knockahopple guests, Liam pursues his other passion: designing and making shard jewelry.

"My shard jewelry finds its roots in the folk art known as Pique Assiette, French for 'stolen from the plate.' The art form was first recognized in Africa where pottery vessels were used to mark the graves of their previous owners. Later, the Victorians placed broken china on jars and vases to make memory jugs. Today, broken china continues to be recycled into tabletops, picture frames and a variety ofother items…all forms of Pique Assiette."

He says, "Twice a year, I unveil my new collections at Spring and Winter Shows held every April and November. Meanwhile, I also sell my work at select craft shows, private home showings, and in my online store."

1900's Royal Buxton China Shard Pin/Pendant

I was surprised to find how reasonably priced these unique pieces are. You can see more of Liam's collection at liamshardjewelry.com

I hope you've enjoyed our peek into Knockahopple Cottage and Liam's shard jewelry. I want to thank Liam for allowing me the privilege of using his photos, and sharing his cottage life here at A Joyful Cottage.

At the end of this rainbow is a pot of gold known as Knockahopple Cottage.

For more information about Knockahopple Cottage, or to book a stay, visit Liam's website: www.knockahopple.com

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Welcome to A Joyful Cottage

For as long as I can remember I've loved cottages. These cozy places, with abundant flowers and sunshine, give me a sense of peace and contentment. Walking through the front door of a cottage one sees simple, timeless decor: fresh cut flowers in unexpected containers, vintage fabrics, painted furniture and well-worn books. This isn't a home where everything matches and that makes the rooms even more enchanting. They're decidedly and lovingly filled with whatever things bring joy to the inhabitants. Come with me and explore the beauty and simplicity of a cottage life, no matter where you live.

All material on this blog is mine unless stated otherwise. If you'd like to use or publish anything you find here, please contact me for permission. I'm easy to get along with.